Mount assembly for electronic devices

ABSTRACT

A mounting assembly for portable electronic devices includes a mount ( 12 ) with a mounting ball ( 16 ) that mates with a socket assembly ( 22 ) formed in a housing ( 18 ) of an electronic device ( 20 ). The socket assembly includes an orifice ( 32 ) formed in the back of the housing, a seat ( 34 ) positioned in the orifice for matingly receiving the ball, and a spring element ( 36 ) partially surrounding the seat. The seat includes a concave center portion ( 38 ) and a plurality of flexible, interconnected arms ( 40,42,44 ) extending from the concave center portion. The spring element substantially encircles the flexible arms to allow the flexible arms to flex outward when receiving the ball and to then contract inwardly to contact the ball when the ball is seated fully in the seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of mounting assemblies forelectronic devices. More particularly, the invention relates to amounting assembly with a ball and socket joint, wherein the ball andsocket are easily separable for quick installation and removal of anelectronic device.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of electronic devices in vehicles has increased in recent years.For example, it is increasingly more common to see electronic devicessuch as global positioning satellite (GPS) devices, portable telephones,radios and personal digital assistants (PDAs) mounted within vehicleseither permanently or, in the case of portable electronics, removably.Many of these devices have displays which visibly communicateinformation to one or more users. Thus, it is advantageous to be able toadjust a position and angle of such devices to provide maximum viewingcapability to the user or users. Portable devices are furtheradvantageous in that they can be taken from the vehicle and used outsideof the vehicle.

Due to the wide variety of electronic devices that can be mounted withina vehicle, many different types of mounting apparatuses exist that cansecure an electronic device to the dashboard, windshield, floor, orother support surface in a vehicle such that a user may adjust aposition of the device. One type of mounting apparatus used withportable electronic devices includes a base connected to a cradle via aball and socket joint. The base is fixedly or permanently secured to asurface of the vehicle, and the ball and socket joint allows the cradleto be selectively positioned in any of a broad range of positionsrelative to the base. The cradle receives an electronic device andretains the electronic device with screws or similar fastening devices,allowing a user to selectively adjust a position or orientation of theelectronic device.

While this type of prior art mounting apparatus is operable to mount aportable electronic device to a vehicle so that the device can berepositioned, it suffers from certain limitations. The cradles of priormount apparatuses increase the size, weight, and cost of the apparatus,for example, and require a user to loosen or tighten the screws or otherfasteners each time the electronic devices are mounted to or removedfrom the cradles, and loosen and subsequently tighten the screws eachtime it is desired to re-position the electronic devices.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved vehicle mounting apparatusfor a portable electronic device that does not suffer from the problemsand limitations of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the above-described problems and provides adistinct advance in the art of vehicle mounting assemblies forelectronic devices. More particularly, the present invention involves amounting assembly with a separable ball and socket joint that eliminatesthe need for a cradle interposed between a mount and an electronicdevice.

According to a first embodiment, the invention comprises a mount thatmay be secured to a surface of a vehicle, a mounting ball projectingfrom the mount, and a housing for encasing an electronic device. Thehousing includes a socket assembly for receiving and frictionallyengaging the ball to retain the housing in a fixed position relative tothe mount.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the socket assemblycomprises an orifice formed in the back of the housing, a seatpositioned in the orifice for matingly receiving the ball, and a springelement partially surrounding the seat. The seat includes a concaveportion and flexible, interconnected arms extending from the concaveportion for contacting an outer surface of the ball and frictionallyresisting rotation of the ball relative to the orifice. The springelement substantially encircles the flexible arms to allow the flexiblearms to flex outward when receiving the ball and to then contractinwardly to firmly hold the ball when the ball is seated fully in theseat.

A third embodiment of the invention involves an assembly for removablymounting an electronic device to a vehicle. The assembly comprises asuction-cup mount removably attachable to a surface of the vehicle, amounting ball projecting from the mount, an electronic device with ahousing for encasing the electronic device, and a socket assemblyintegrally formed in the housing. The socket assembly includes anorifice formed in the back of the housing, a seat positioned in theorifice for matingly receiving the ball, and a spring element partiallysurrounding the seat. The seat further includes a concave center portionand a plurality of flexible, interconnected arms extending from theconcave portion. The arms form a cage smaller in diameter than the ballwhen the arms are in a relaxed state and are curved to substantiallyconform to the outer surface of the ball and to engage a hemisphere ofthe ball distal the concave center portion to retain the ball in theseat. The spring element includes a metal spring ring substantiallyencircling the arms, wherein the spring ring allows the arms to flexoutward when receiving and releasing the ball, and to contract inwardlyto contact the ball when the ball is seated fully in the seat.

These and other important aspects of the present invention are describedmore fully in the detailed description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detailbelow with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mounting assembly for a portableelectronic device constructed according to a preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded rear perspective view of the mounting assembly ofFIG. 1, illustrating a ball and socket joint that separably secures anelectronic device to a mount;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 1,wherein the ball is illustrated separated from the socket;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the ball and socket of the mountingassembly of FIG. 1, wherein the ball is snapped into the socket;

FIG. 5. is a fragmentary view of the ball and socket of the mountingassembly of FIG. 1 taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2, wherein the ball issnapped into the socket; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of the ball and socket of the mountingassembly of FIG. 1, wherein a plurality of plastic arms of the socketare flexed outward to allow the ball to pass into the socket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary mounting assembly forelectronic devices employing the principles of the present invention isshown and designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The mountingassembly 10 comprises a mount 12 including a base 14 and a mounting ball16; and a housing 18 for a portable electronic device 20, wherein thehousing.1 8 presents a socket assembly 22 for receiving the ball 16.

The mount 12 removably secures to a surface of a vehicle (see FIG. 3),such as a windshield of the vehicle, and supports the electronic device20 in view of a user, such as a vehicle driver or passenger. The mount12 includes a rigid circular base 14 that is generally convex so as tocurve away from the vehicle surface. A flexible sheet 24 is positionedbetween the base 14 and the vehicle surface for engaging the vehiclesurface with a vacuum grip, wherein an air-tight seal is created betweenthe flexible sheet 24 and the vehicle surface. The mount 12 can also bereplaced with a mount that is more permanently applied to the windshieldor other surface with adhesives, a mount with a weighted base that restson a vehicle dashboard, or any other type of mounting device.

A lever 26 is positioned generally in a center of the base 14 andconnects to a center of the flexible sheet 24 through the base 14 andenables the user to actuate the flexible sheet 24 to create the vacuumgripping function. A tab 28 of the flexible sheet 24 extends beyond arim of the base 14 and enables a user to release the mount 12 bybreaking the air-tight seal between the flexible sheet 24 and thevehicle surface. The vacuum grip or “suction cup” function of the mount12 is substantially conventional in nature and therefore will not bedescribed in greater detail here.

Referring also to FIG. 3, the ball 16 is connected to the base 14 via aneck 30 projecting from the base 14. The neck 30 is eccentricallylocated on the base 14 and projects substantially normally therefrom,but projects slightly away from a center of the base 14. The ball 16 isconnected to the neck 30 such that a center of the ball 16 is proximatea line extending normally from an edge of the base 14 and is spacedapproximately one and one-quarter inches from the base 14. The ball 16is substantially rigid to prevent deformation thereof and presents anouter surface that introduces sufficient friction between the ball 16and the socket assembly 22 to resist movement of the electronic device20 relative to the mount 12. The ball 16 is thus constructed of plasticor another sturdy material that presents a rough surface, or is coatedto present a rough or soft surface with the friction characteristicsdescribed above.

The electronic device 20 may be any portable electronic device to beremovably mounted in a vehicle. The illustrated device 20 is a model i3STREETPILOT™ GPS-based navigational device manufactured by GARMIN™. Thehousing 18 of the electronic device 20 encases the electronic device 20and is substantially conventional, except that the housing 18 presents asocket assembly 22 for removably connecting directly to the ball 16 ofthe mount 12, wherein the socket assembly 22 frictionally engages theball 16 to retain the housing 18 in a fixed position relative to themount 12. The socket assembly 22 generally comprises an orifice 32formed in the back of the housing 18, a seat 34 positioned in theorifice 32 for matingly receiving the ball 16, and a spring element 36partially surrounding the seat 34.

The seat includes a concave center portion 38 and a plurality offlexible, interconnected arms. In one embodiment, four arms 40,42,44(only three of which are visible in the drawing figures) are spaced at90° intervals and extend from the concave center portion. However, anynumber of arms may be provided without departing from the scope of thepresent invention. The concave center portion 38 presents a continuous,bowl-shaped surface concave to the orifice 32 such that the centerportion 38 matingly receives the ball 16. The center portion 38 isconstructed of plastic or other material presenting a surface thatintroduces friction between the center portion 38 and the ball 16 toresist movement of the ball 16 relative to the orifice 32. Furthermore,the center portion 38 is in a fixed position relative to the housing 18and is substantially rigid so as not to yield to pressure exerted by theball 16.

The arms 40,42,44 are connected to and extend from a periphery of thecenter portion 38 and are curved to form a circular cage, wherein thecenter portion 38 and the arms 40,42,44 together define a generallyspherical cavity for receiving and retaining the ball 16. The ball 16and seat 34 are constructed such that the ball 16 snaps into and out ofthe spherical cavity defined by the seat 34. When the arms 40,42,44 arein a relaxed or unflexed state, the inside of the cage formed by thearms 40,42,44 is slightly smaller in diameter than an external surfaceof the ball 16, such that when the ball 16 is inserted into the cage thearms 40,42,44 engage and press against the ball 16. In this manner, thearms 40,42,44 frictionally resist rotation of the ball 16 within thesocket assembly 22 and require a user to manually push the electronicdevice 20 from a first position to a second position relative to themount 12. FIGS. 4-5 illustrated the arms 40,42,44 engaging the ball 16when the ball 16 is seated in the socket assembly 22.

The arms 40,42,44 curve around the ball 16 from the periphery of thecenter portion 38 to a point that is on a hemisphere of the ball 16opposite the center portion 38 to retain the ball 16 in the seat 32. Inother words, the arms 40,42,44 “reach around” the ball 16 from thecenter portion 38 such that the opening of the cage is smaller than thediameter of the ball 16. This allows the ball 16 to be snapped into thesocket assembly 22 by forcing the ball 16 into the socket assembly 22and toward the center portion 38 of the seat 32, wherein the arms40,42,44 flex outwardly to allow a girth of the ball 16 to pass throughthe opening of the cage and then contract inward when the ball 16 isfully seated in the socket assembly 22. Likewise, the arms 40,42,44release the ball 16 by flexing outward when the ball 16 is forced awayfrom the center portion 38 of the seat 34 and out of the socket assembly22. FIG. 6 illustrates the arms 40,42,44 flexing outward to accommodatepassage of the ball 16.

The spring element 36 partially encircles the arms 40,42,44 and isoperable to bias the arms 40,42,44 inwardly to contact the ball 16 whenthe ball 16 is in the socket assembly 22, while allowing the arms40,42,44 to flex outwardly to receive and release the ball 16. Theillustrated spring element 36 is a metal spring ring that substantiallyencircles the arms 40,42,44, and is approximately one-quarter toone-half of an inch wide, approximately three-quarters of an inch indiameter, and presents a gap 46 of approximately one-eighth toone-quarter inch between ends thereof. The gap 46 allows the spring ringto flex. When the ball 16 is not in the socket assembly 22, the springelement 36 is relaxed and applies little or no biasing pressure on thearms 40,42,44. When the ball 16 is forced into the socket assembly 22,the arms 40,42,44 flex outwardly, as discussed above and engage thespring element 36, causing the spring element 36 to also flex outwardlywherein the gap 46 widens. When the ball 16 is snapped into the seatedposition the spring element 36 biases the arms 40,42,44 inwardly againstthe ball 16.

Thus, the arms 40,42,44 and the spring element 36 cooperate tofrictionally resist rotation of the ball 16 within the socket assembly22 and to retain the ball 16 in the socket assembly.22. The cooperationbetween the arms 40,42,44 and spring element 36 presents a distinctadvance in the art because, among other things, the combination is moreeffective in retaining the ball 16 within the socket assembly 22 thaneither component would be individually. The arms 40,42,44 alone, forexample, typically would not provide as strong a spring force as thecombination of the arms 40,42,44 and the spring element 36, and maypermanently bend outward or even break after repeated use. Furthermore,the spring element 36 acting alone would provide less contact area withthe ball 16, and metal would provide less friction against the ball 16to resist rotation of the ball 16 within the socket assembly 22.

In use, the mount 12 is installed in a vehicle by selecting a suitablysmooth and flat surface. Such a surface may be on a windshield, otherwindow, or dashboard. Alternatively, a specially made material may beattached to a surface of the vehicle to provide a superior mountingsurface for the suction cup mount. The mount 12 is pressed onto thesurface and the lever 26 is flipped downward to secure the mount 12 tothe surface via the vacuum grip function. Once the mount 12 is securedto the surface, the electronic device 20 may be easily snapped onto andoff of the mount 12.

To secure the electronic device 20 to the mount 12, the user simplyplaces the orifice 32 of the socket assembly 22 over the ball 16 andpushes the socket assembly 22 onto the ball 16. The electronic device 20may then be repositioned as the user desires and the arms 40,42,44 willcause the electronic device 20 to remain in its current position. Toremove the electronic device 20 from the mount 12, the electronic device20 is rotated to an extreme angle relative to the mount 12, such as tothe user's left or right, and then pushed beyond the angle to cause thesocket assembly 22 to snap off of the ball 16. Alternatively, theelectronic device 20 can be pulled straight out to cause the socketassembly to snap off the ball, but this requires more pulling force. Themount 12 is removed from the vehicle's surface by lifting the lever 26away from the base 14 of the mount 12 to release the suction cup and thetab is pulled away from the vehicle surface.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particularembodiment illustrated in the attached drawings, it is noted thatequivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims. Itwill be appreciated, for example, that the metal spring ring 40 may bereplaced with a similar element capable of biasing the arms 40,42,44against the ball 16 including, for example, a plastic spring ring or arubber or elastomer ring that entirely encircles the arms 40,42,44.Furthermore, the arms 40,42,44 need not be plastic buy may beconstructed of any flexible, friction-producing material and may beconnected to an element of the housing 18 other than the center portion38. Further yet, it will be appreciated that use of the ball and socketassembly disclosed herein is not restricted to portable electronicdevices, but may also be used to removably retain other devices, suchas, for example, mirrors.

1. (canceled)
 2. The navigational device as set forth in claim 3,wherein the mount is a suction cup mount.
 3. A navigational devicecomprising: a mount for being secured to a surface of a vehicle andpresenting a mounting ball; and a housing for encasing the navigationaldevice, wherein the housing includes a socket assembly for receiving andfrictionally engaging the ball to moveably attach the housing to themount, wherein the socket assembly includes a seat formed of a flexible,friction-producing material biased against the ball, wherein sufficientfriction exists between the friction-producing material and the ball toprevent the housing from moving relative to the mount in the absence ofuser-applied force.
 4. The navigational device as set forth in claim 3,wherein the friction-producing material includes a plastic element. 5.The navigational device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the seatincludes a plurality of arms that form a cage substantially surroundingthe ball.
 6. The navigational device as set forth in claim 5, whereinthe seat further includes a concave center portion, wherein the armsextend from a periphery of the center portion.
 7. The navigationaldevice as set forth in claim 6, wherein the arms are formed integrallywith the center portion and extend from a periphery of the centerportion.
 8. The navigational device as set forth in claim 5, wherein thearms are curved to substantially conform to an outer surface of the balland to engage a hemisphere of the ball distal the seat to retain theball in the seat.
 9. The navigational device as set forth in claim 3,wherein the friction-producing material is biased against the ball by aspring element.
 10. The navigational device as set forth in claim 9,wherein the spring element includes a circular spring element thatpartially encircles the friction-producing material.
 11. Thenavigational device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the circularspring element is a metal spring ring that substantially encircles thefriction-producing material.
 12. A ball and socket assembly comprising:a ball; a seat for matingly receiving the ball, the seat including— aconcave center portion, and a plurality of interconnected arms extendingfrom the concave center portion for contacting an outer surface of theball and frictionally resisting rotation of the ball relative to theseat; and a spring element substantially encircling the arms, whereinthe spring element allows the arms to flex outward to receive the balland biases the arms inwardly to contact the ball when the ball is seatedin the concave seat.
 13. The assembly as set forth in claim 12, whereinthe arms are formed of flexible material.
 14. The assembly as set forthin claim 13, wherein the arms form a cage smaller in diameter than theball when the arms are in a relaxed state.
 15. The assembly as set forthin claim 14, wherein the arms are curved to substantially conform to theouter surface of the ball and to engage a hemisphere of the ball distalthe concave center portion to retain the ball in the seat.
 16. Theassembly as set forth in claim 15, wherein the concave center portion ismade of plastic and is integrally formed with the arms.
 17. The assemblyas set forth in claim 16, wherein the arms extend from a periphery ofthe concave center portion such that the concave center portion and thearms define a substantially spherical cavity.
 18. The assembly as setforth in claim 12, wherein the spring element is a metal spring ringthat substantially encircles the flexible material.
 19. The assembly asset forth in claim 12, wherein the spring element is a plastic springring that substantially encircles the flexible material.
 20. An assemblyfor removably mounting an electronic device to a vehicle, the assemblycomprising: a suction-cup mount removably attachable to a surface of thevehicle; a mounting ball projecting from the mount; an electronic devicewith a housing for encasing the electronic device; an orifice in a backof the electronic device, a seat positioned in the orifice for matinglyreceiving the ball, the seat including— a concave center portion forreceiving the ball, and a plurality of arms extending from a peripheryof the center portion for contacting an outer surface of the ball andfrictionally resisting rotation of the ball relative to the orifice,wherein the arms form a cage smaller in diameter than the ball when thearms are in a relaxed state, and wherein the arms are curved tosubstantially conform to the outer surface of the ball and to engage ahemisphere of the ball distal the center portion to retain the ball inthe seat; and a metal spring ring substantially encircling the arms,wherein the spring ring allows the arms to flex outward to receive andto release the ball and biases the arms inwardly to contact the ballwhen the ball is fully seated in the seat.
 21. An assembly comprising:an electronic navigation device with a housing for encasing theelectronic device; a mount secured to a surface of a vehicle, whereinthe mount includes— a generally convex circular base, a suction cuppositioned at least partially within the base, a curved neck projectingfrom the base, and a substantially rigid ball mounted to an end of theneck distal from the base; and a socket assembly for receiving andfrictionally engaging the ball to moveably attach the housing to themount, wherein the socket assembly includes— a seat having a concavecenter portion formed of a friction-producing material into which theball is biased, and a plurality of arms that form a cage around theball.
 22. The assembly as set forth in claim 21, wherein the arms areformed integrally with the center portion and extend from a periphery ofthe center portion.
 23. The assembly as set forth in claim 21, whereinthe arms are curved to substantially conform to an outer surface of theball and to engage a hemisphere of the ball distal the seat to retainthe ball in the seat.
 24. The assembly as set forth in claim 21, whereinthe cage is smaller in diameter than the ball when the arms are in arelaxed state.
 25. The assembly as set forth in claim 21, wherein theconcave center portion is made of plastic and is integrally formed withthe arms.
 26. The assembly as set forth in claim 21, wherein the ball ismounted approximately one and one-quarter inches from the base.
 27. Theassembly as set forth in claim 21, wherein the ball is proximate a lineextending normally from an edge of the base.
 28. The assembly as setforth in claim 21, wherein the ball is offset from a line extendingnormally from a center of the base.
 29. The assembly as set forth inclaim 21, wherein sufficient friction exists between thefriction-producing material and the ball to prevent the housing frommoving relative to the mount in the absence of user-applied force. 30.The assembly as set forth in claim 21, wherein the friction-producingmaterial includes a plastic element.